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A chairlift seat below the jagged rocks of Babin Zub on Stara Planina

Resort guide · Serbia

Stara Planina: Our Ski Guide

Serbia’s quiet mountain in the far east of the country, run by Skijališta Srbije like Kopaonik: more than 13 km of runs below the rocks of Babin Zub, the first gondola in Serbia, snow for almost five months a year and some of the gentlest lift prices in Europe.

Plan your trip:Official resort site Our Belgrade guide

The back story

Operator: Skijališta Srbije (Ski Resorts of Serbia), the state ski company that also runs Kopaonik · Season 2026/27: Opening date published by Skijališta Srbije before the season; 2025/26 ran from 31 Dec 2025 to 5 Apr 2026 · Ski area: More than 13 km of runs between Jabučko Ravnište and Babin Zub, with snowmaking · Lifts: Jabučko Ravnište gondola, Babin Zub and Konjarnik chairlifts, Rudine and Sunčana Dolina drag lifts, children’s moving carpet · Top viewpoint: Midžor, 2,169 m, the highest peak in Serbia; the rocks of Babin Zub at 1,758 m · Lift pass: Adult day 3,450–3,750 RSD, 2025/26 (skijalistasrbije.rs) · Nearest airport: Niš Constantine the Great (INI); Belgrade (BEG) about 330 km

  1. The back story

    Stara Planina: the back story

    Stara Planina·In depth: history

    The Old Mountain that gave the Balkans their name, the highest peak in Serbia, the first gondola in the country and the shepherds’ villages that still live from cheese, sausage and kilims.

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Lift passes, ski schools and hire

  1. Run by Skijališta Srbije

    Ski Centre Stara Planina

    Stara Planina·Ski resort·€

    More than 13 km of runs between Jabučko Ravnište and Babin Zub, served by Serbia’s first gondola, two four-seat chairlifts, two drag lifts and a children’s park, with snowmaking.

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  2. Official prices, 2025/26

    Stara Planina ski pass

    Stara Planina·Lift pass·€

    An adult day pass cost 3,450–3,750 RSD in 2025/26, about €29–32, depending on the dates; under-6s ski at no charge with a parent on the beginner areas, green and blue runs.

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  3. Licensed by Skijališta Srbije

    Ski škola Kopaonik / Stara Planina

    Stara Planina·Ski school & rental·€

    A ski and snowboard school licensed by Skijališta Srbije on Kopaonik and Stara Planina, with private and group lessons for children and adults and ski rental on the mountain.

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  4. Moving carpet for first-timers

    Children’s park, Jabučko Ravnište

    Stara Planina·Beginner area·€

    The operator’s beginners’ area at Jabučko Ravnište, with a moving carpet beside the gondola and Hotel Stara Planina; a children’s park ticket cost 1,200 RSD for adults in 2025/26.

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  5. Up the mountain without skis

    Panoramic gondola ride

    Stara Planina·Sightseeing lift·€

    Skijališta Srbije runs the Jabučko Ravnište gondola for sightseers too, for a ride up into the high pastures with views over the Old Mountain.

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Where to stay, every budget

Who it suits. On a budget: Mountain Lodge Midžor below Babin Zub, a day pass from 3,450 RSD (2025/26) and ski hire from 1,600 RSD a day. Mid-range: Hotel Babin Zub, a 21-room mountain hotel with a fireplace café, steps from the Konjarnik chairlift. Luxury: Hotel Stara Planina, 20 metres from the slopes beside the gondola, with suites, indoor pool, hammam and a children’s club.

  1. 20 metres from the slopes · In depth

    Hotel Stara Planina

    Stara Planina·Resort hotel & spa·€€€

    A 146-room resort hotel at 1,470 m, about 20 m from the slopes and beside the gondola, with a Wellness & Spa (indoor panoramic pool, Finnish sauna, hammam, jacuzzi), restaurants Rosulja and Balkan, and a playroom and teen club.

    Jabučko ravnište bb, 19353 KalnaExplore View on map

  2. Below the rocks of Babin Zub

    Hotel Babin Zub

    Stara Planina·Mountain hotel·€€

    A small mountain hotel at the foot of Babin Zub, with 19 rooms and two suites, a restaurant of local dishes, a fireplace café and a ski room.

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  3. Budget beds since 1951

    Mountain Lodge Midžor

    Stara Planina·Mountain lodge·€

    A mountain lodge at 1,580 metres below Babin Zub, first built in 1951 and since modernised: 14 rooms with 60 beds, a restaurant and a café with a fireplace.

    Babin zub bb, 19353 KalnaExplore View on map

Restaurants and mountain huts

  1. On the Sunčana Dolina run

    Restoran Plaža

    Stara Planina·Mountain restaurant·€€

    A mountain restaurant right on the Sunčana Dolina run, with a fireplace in the middle of the room, home-made cheese, dried meat and sausage, and views across the highest peaks of the Balkans.

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  2. At Hotel Stara Planina

    Restaurant Rosulja

    Stara Planina·Restaurant & bar·€€€

    Hotel Stara Planina’s day-to-evening restaurant: snacks and drinks between runs, and an à la carte dinner menu.

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  3. Half board plus

    Restaurant Balkan

    Stara Planina·Hotel restaurant·€€

    The main dining room at Hotel Stara Planina, with breakfast and dinners of local and international dishes; on the Half Board Plus package, wine, beer and soft drinks at dinner are included.

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  4. Home-made specialities

    Babin Zub restaurant

    Stara Planina·Hotel restaurant·€€

    The 70-seat restaurant at Hotel Babin Zub, with local food and home-made specialities close to the upper lifts.

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  5. Local food at 1,580 m

    Midžor lodge restaurant

    Stara Planina·Mountain lodge restaurant·€

    The restaurant and fireplace café of Mountain Lodge Midžor, with a rich menu of local food and specialities below Babin Zub.

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Après-ski and bars

  1. Drinks by the fire on the piste

    Fireside at Plaža

    Stara Planina·Après-ski·€€

    Stara Planina’s après is quiet and fireside: end the day at Plaža on the Sunčana Dolina run, with a long drinks list and a fire in the middle of the room.

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  2. Beside the gondola

    Rosulja terrace bar

    Stara Planina·Hotel bar·€€

    Snacks and drinks at Hotel Stara Planina’s Rosulja restaurant, by the gondola at the end of the day.

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Shops

  1. The brands of Pirot

    Pirot kilims, cheese and sausage

    Stara Planina·Local crafts and food·€€

    The Pirot tourist board names four local brands worth taking home: the woven Pirot kilim (ćilim), pottery, kačkavalj cheese and the pressed sausage, peglana kobasica.

    Srpskih vladara 77, 18300 PirotExplore View on map

  2. In the ski season

    Pirot Sausage Fair, 30–31 Jan 2027

    Stara Planina·Food fair·€

    The Pirot pressed-sausage fair (Sajam pirotske peglane kobasice) fills the town’s fairground on 30 and 31 January 2027, with sausage makers, cheese and kačkavalj, wine, rakija and other home produce.

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Spas and wellness

  1. Day passes for non-guests

    Wellness & Spa at Hotel Stara Planina

    Stara Planina·Hotel spa·€€

    An indoor pool with panoramic views, Finnish sauna, Turkish hammam, jacuzzi, massage showers and a gym; open to non-guests from 09:00 to 21:00 for 2,400 RSD.

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  2. A Roman-era warm spring

    Spa & Wellness Rgoška Banjica

    Stara Planina·Thermal spa·€

    A spa beside the warm spring of Rgoška Banjica, five kilometres from Knjaževac, with a Finnish sauna, steam bath, jacuzzi, hydromassage tubs and massages; closed on Mondays.

    Banjička 81, KnjaževacExplore View on map

Getting there

  1. The closest airport

    Niš Constantine the Great Airport (INI)

    Stara Planina·Airport·€

    Serbia’s second international airport, in Niš, the closest to Stara Planina; hire a car or book a taxi for the mountain road.

    Ulica vazduhoplovaca 24, NišExplore View on map

  2. About 330 km

    Driving from Belgrade

    Stara Planina·By car·€

    Stara Planina is about 330 km from Belgrade by the motorway to Niš, then via Svrljig on road 222; alternative routes run through Knjaževac or Pirot.

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  3. International flights

    Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport

    Stara Planina·Airport·€

    Serbia’s main airport and Air Serbia’s hub, the gateway for international flights; from here, Stara Planina is a drive of about 330 km.

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Property: the neighbourhoods

  1. The resort base

    Jabučko Ravnište

    Stara Planina·Neighbourhood

    The plateau at the foot of the gondola, home to Hotel Stara Planina, the children’s park and the resort’s main services.

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  2. High and wild

    Babin Zub

    Stara Planina·Neighbourhood

    The upper area below the rocks of Babin Zub, with the older lifts, Hotel Babin Zub and Mountain Lodge Midžor.

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  3. The little Venice of eastern Serbia

    Knjaževac

    Stara Planina·Neighbourhood

    The riverside town on the Timok, about 50 km from the ski centre, with apartments, village guesthouses and the Banjica spa.

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Share your Stara Planina tips

Been there? Share your runs, huts and tips with other skiers.

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